
Israel to Receive First Iron Beam Laser Defense System by Year’s End
Israeli defense officials say the country is approaching a new milestone in air defense, with the first operational capability of the Iron Beam laser system expected to be delivered to the IDF by the end of 2025. Brig. Gen. (Res.) Dr Danny Gold, head of the Directorate of Defense Research & Development, announced on Monday, December 1, at the Defense-Tech conference in Tel Aviv that the directorate—together with Rafael and Elbit—plans to deliver the laser weapon system to the Air Force’s air-defense branch before the year ends. The system is also known in Hebrew as “Eitan Or,” named in memory of fallen soldier Eitan Oster.
Gold said the initial capability would be handed over to the IDF on Tuesday, December 30. He also emphasized that delivery is not the end of the process, because the military must still integrate the system into existing defenses and carry out training to use it effectively. In other words, the handover is presented as a key step in a longer operational journey—moving from development and testing into real-world deployment, where procedures, coordination, and readiness determine how new tools perform under pressure.
Gold described the system as one that could “change the rules of the battlefield,” and said it was ready to be handed over after completing development and a testing sequence that proved its capabilities. He also pointed to a broader shift in Israel’s defense-technology ecosystem, saying the “game has changed” and that startups now compete with major defense firms and can prevail. He cited a recent example in which a group of startups teamed up, competed against major defense industries in a directorate tender, and was selected to supply an attack-drone array to the IDF.
(YNN/VFI News)
“Lord, thank You for giving Israel wisdom and skill to develop defenses that can protect life and restrain evil. Bless the engineers, researchers, and commanders with humility and discernment, so that every new capability is used wisely and integrated safely. May these tools serve as a shield for the innocent, and may Your true protection and peace rest over Israel and all who dwell in the land, in Yeshua’s Name.”